Bauer leads Barrow to glory

Barrow overturned a ten-point deficit to clinch a thrilling 26-18 win over Halifax in the Co-operative Championship Grand Final.

In doing so The Raiders ended a 26-year wait for a cup final victory - their last success being the 1983 Lancashire Cup triumph over Widnes.

Andreas Bauer was the hero for Barrow, the former Hull KR centre scoring two tries to help his side eradicate the memory of their Northern Rail Cup final defeat earlier in the year.

It was Halifax who hit the front on 12 minutes as winger James Haley dived over after just holding on to stand-off Mick Govin's pass.

The advantage was extended to 10-0 when Shad Royston reacted quickest to touch down Ben Black's grubber with goalkicker Lee Patterson adding the conversion - although crucially it proved his only successful kick of the day.

Barrow hauled themselves back into the match with two tries in a five-minute spell before half-time to ensure they went in level at the break.

Firstly centre Liam Harrison rose above Patterson to claim Jamie Rooney's high-kick for a well-taken score, then winger Andy Ballard finished off a flowing move that involved Brett McDermott, Zeb Luisi, Gary Broadbent and Bauer.

Halifax restored their lead as Black danced in for a fine solo try, but Patterson again missed the conversion and was also off-target with a penalty attempt.

The misses began to look costly as Barrow responded with their third try, Dave Allen powering over from close range and Rooney's successful conversion edged them in front for the first time.

Baeur then nipped over from dummy half to extend his side's lead to 20-14, but Rooney contrived to miss a relatively straightforward conversion that kept Halifax with a single score.

Govin cut the lead to just two nine minutes from time as he surged over, but Patterson missed the chance to drag his team level as his conversion again went wide.

Barrow finally put the game to bed when Bauer went in for his second two minutes from time and Rooney added the extras to move them out of sight.

Delighted Raiders head coach Dave Clark reserved special praise for club chairman Des Johnston after the victory, stating: "It's a fantastic achievement. We played really well tonight.

"Everyone has worked really hard all year, especially Des behind the scenes.

"Des loves the club and he said at the beginning of the year that he wanted to win the competition. He brought quality players to the club to do that and that needs recognition."